Page 26 - Old Ratcliffian Magazine 2017

26 RATCLIFFIAN ASSOCIATION COUNCIL RATCLIFFIAN ASSOCIATION EVENTS 27

GRACE DIEU MANOR SCHOOL 2017 RATCLIFFIAN ASSOCIATION

EVENTS

THE RATCLIFFE COLLEGE RECEPTION IN MADRID

THURSDAY 6TH OCTOBER 2016

Thank you to all of the parents and Old Ratcliffians
who supported the Ratcliffe Reception in Madrid
last October at the wonderful Hotel Wellington.
The aim of the event was to bring together all
those people connected with Ratcliffe who live in
or near this area. It was a great success, and we
hope that this is the first of many events in Spain’s
lovely capital city.
As many of you reading this article will have attended Grace Dieu Many of you may know Margaret from your time at the School, as
Manor School before joining Ratcliffe College, we thought that she has been an important part of the Grace Dieu community for
you might like an update on some of the School’s recent changes almost 17 years. The event included Old Ratcliffians from Madrid,
and developments, of which there have been many over the last along with current and recent Madrid-based
few years. Given that I have been helping Grace Dieu with its CELEBRATING THE NURSERY’S FIRST parents. Many of them have children who attend
Admissions over the last few months, I thought I was best placed BIRTHDAY Ratcliffe currently or have left recently, and it was
to bring you all up to speed! great to see them coming along to meet other
Grace Dieu Nursery has just celebrated its first birthday, and it is Madrid-based Ratcliffians.
ENJOYING CLOSER LINKS WITH RATCLIFFE an incredibly popular choice for families with children already at
the School, including many former pupils! You can find out more Andrew Yell (82)
In September 2016, Grace Dieu aligned itself with Ratcliffe about the wide range of facilities available on the School’s brand
College Preparatory School under the newly formed Rosminian new website: www.gracedieu.com. Development Director Andrew Yell (82) & Jo Leite (far left) with guests in Madrid
Collegiate, creating a lasting link between both schools and
allowing a seamless transition to Ratcliffe College Senior School. WELCOMING BACK OLD RATCLIFFIANS
Grace Dieu has also expanded its age range and now educates THE SIXTH FORM & OLD RATCLIFFIAN SOCIAL
children from just 12 weeks up to 11 years old. If you would like to come and visit us, please do get in touch.
As Headmistress Margaret Kewell says: ‘There is always an open WEDNESDAY 11TH JANUARY 2017
EMPLOYING GRACE DIEU’S FIRST FEMALE door here at Grace Dieu for all of our past pupils and for all Old
HEADTEACHER Ratcliffians.’ If you are a former pupil of Grace Dieu, don’t forget At the start of the year, the Ratcliffian Association hosted an for the match. Alex Slack (née Gamble) (03), the Association
that you can join our alumni, too; please call the School if you event to bring together the current Sixth Form students and Old Manager, ‘took one for the team’, as she was the only girl that
For the first time in its 84-year history, Grace Dieu now has a would like to be added to our database. Ratcliffians. A fantastic night was had by all; it gave the students played. Next year, we hope that more girls will put on their
female Headteacher. Margaret Kewell became Head of Grace an opportunity to network with ORs, as well as giving the ORs a trainers and join in…not us, though, as we’ll be watching from
Dieu in September 2017, having held the position of Deputy Jackie Bennett chance to reminisce about old times at Bar Night. The evening the Bar window with wine in hand!
Head for the last three years, and Senior Teacher before that. Former Secretary of the Ratcliffian Association
began with a five-a-side football match in the Sports Hall, which
saw the School win by a few goals. There was a great turnout After the football, Graham Sharpe (former Head of Sixth Form)
treated us to one of his infamous quizzes, which went down
a storm. The ‘Old Rats’ took victory in the quiz this time! The
evening was perfectly finished off with a visit from ‘Heidi the
Van’, supplying everyone with a delicious feast of gourmet
burgers from a vintage Citroën H Van. There was a great turnout,
with around twenty-five ORs attending and fifty Year 13s.

Thank you to everyone who was involved in organising the
event, as it gave many of us a good excuse to visit again after
several years. Despite a lot of changes around the School – new
buildings, staff and students – the ethos and atmosphere that
we all remember have remained the same.

Holly Devereaux (05) & Olivia French-Gray (05)
Margaret Kewell with some of the students Jackie Bennett Holly Devereaux (05) & Olivia French-Gray (05)
The next Sixth Form Social is on Wednesday 10th January 2018.

Register online for our new website: www.ratcliffianassociation.co.uk Register online for our new website: www.ratcliffianassociation.co.uk

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